Philadelphia's own Dr. Dog has really hit the jackpot on their latest album We All Belong. You'd be hard pressed to find a more engaging album anywhere, as the band effortlessly combine familiar pop touchstones with some excellent songwriting.

Start with the sing along title track, then enjoy the rest of the album, full of very witty song structures and Beach Boys and Beatle-esque melodies. "The Way Lazy Do," "Old Ways," and "Worst Trip" are all top-notch tunes, and the songwriting is always challenging, always looking for novel ways to tell a story, both lyrically and instrumentally.

It's a small wonder that Dr. Dog has grabbed the attention of the mainstream (network TV shows, Rolling Stone, etc.) media on this release. There's just something so familiar yet novel about the band's music and worldview. In its 38-odd minutes, We All Belong is capable of taking you back and keeping you in the moment.

Filtering classic rock and pop hooks through a willfully lo-fi slacker aesthetic a la Pavement or Guided by Voices, Philadelphia's Dr. Dog are able to sound both timeless and immediate as only the best music can. {readmorelink}Read More...{/readmorelink}

Formed in 1999 as a recording project between two members of the more traditional indie-rock band Raccoon, Dr. Dog cemented itself into a real band when Raccoon ended in the early 2000's. Their first two records, 2001's Psychedelic Swamp and 2002's Toothbrush, were both self-released but failed to make an impact outside of the Philadelphia area. However, the band's fortunes changed when My Morning Jacket's Jim James handpicked Dr. Dog to open for My Morning Jacket for their 2004 tour. They were subsequently picked up by indie label Park the Van for their 2005's Easy Beat, which was met with wide critical praise for it's fascinating combination of psychedelic pop hooks and Beach Boys-esque vocal harmonies.

We All Belong, Dr. Dog's forthcoming new record, is shaping up to be their most powerful and cohesive artistic statement yet. With a bigger following than they have ever had before, the record is their chance to break through to the mainstream in a big way by exploring their love of "three-part harmonies, the out-of-doors, soya roti's, baking bread and diminished chords."